Photographic composition system using a galvanometer movement

ABSTRACT

An improved photographic composition system utilizes a pulsed light source which projects a beam of light through a character information to produce an image which is reflected by a mirror onto a light sensitive sheet. The mirror is rotated by a galvanometer in response to electronic inputs so that the projected characters are properly spaced in accordance with their point sizes.

Ulliifll $13188 Patent 11 1 Sinnott et al.

1111 3,733,983 [451 May 22, 1973 [54] PHOTOGRAPI-IIC COMPOSITION SYSTEM USING A GALVANOMETER MOVEMENT [75] Inventors: David J. Sinnott, Ringwood; Donald E. Alecci, Pine Brook, both of NJ.

[73] Assignee: Star-New-Era, Inc., Hackensack,

22 Filed: Feb. 9, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 113,931

[52] U.S. Cl. ..85/4.5 R 51 Int. Cl.....B41b 15/00, 1341b 15/08, B4111 17/10 [58] Field of Search ..95/4.5 R; 178/15;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,543,657 12 1970 Rosenblum ..9s/4.s 3,434,402 3/1969 McCall ..95/4.5

3,568,580 3/197 1' Moyroud ..95/4.5 2,600,168 6/1952 Klyce ...95/4.5 3,553,676 1/1971 Raciti ..95/4.5

OTHER PUBLICATIONS IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 12, No. 3, D. C. Chang et a1., Nonimpact Printer, Aug. 1969.

Primary Examiner-Robert P. Greiner Attorney-Norman N. Holland [57] ABSTRACT An improved photographic composition system utilizes a pulsed light source which projects a beam of light through a character information to produce an image which is reflected by-a mirror onto a light sensitive sheet. The mirror is rotated by a galvanometer in response to electronic inputs so that the projected characters are properly spaced in accordance with their point sizes.

7 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure LFAOl/YG 36 Coo m Limo/was PHOTOGRAPl-IIC COMPOSITION SYSTEM USING A GALVANOMETER MOVEMENT This invention relates to typesetting and composition of printed matter and in particular to an improved photo type composition and type preparation system and mechanism for the preparation system and mechanism for the preparation of proof copy and printing plates for offset, letter and lithographic presses, as described in the application Photographic Composition System Ser. No. 825,692 filed May 19, 1969. Such equipment operates by taking a punched tape input, which may be prepared on any tape perforator now commonly used, and converting the data into a photocomposition which is fully justified.

Photocomposing machines are well known in the art. In some machines, cut stencils were interposed between a light source and light sensitive paper for film, and the paper or film was progressively moved for proper alignment and spacing of the characters. The production rate of these machines was necessarily low and required a high degree of skill from the operator.

In other machines the stencils were placed on rotary plates, strips, or drums to form a character created by a light source. These characters were progressively placed on film or paper by a translating prism-mirror optical system to create a line type. Obviously, the speed of such machines was limited by the light source and the translating means of placement of each character on the film or paper.

The principle object of this invention is an improved photocomposition machine that will prepare a more rapid type-setting copy and film for preparation of printing plates or finished printed material at speeds compatible both with the present requirements of the graphic arts and the skills now available in any newspaper, book publisher or print shop.

A tape of the texual material to be composed is placed into a tape reader which reads the tape as to the character and line data. The data is entered into a computer which transforms the character data to a count which identifies the position of the character on a drum and which controls the occurrence of a light flash through the drum which has character efiormations. The computer also generates a digital code for the orientation of a mirror for reflecting the light subsequently onto a photosensitive material.

The physical orientation of the mirror is accomplished through the improvement comprising a coindidence control and a galvanometer movement. A digital-to-analog converter for generating the analog voltage input to the galvanometer rotates the mirror only when the coincidence control indicates rotation will not interfere with imprinting the photosensitive material. A gain control on the digital-to-analog converter permits a simple adjustment for adapting the photocomposition system for various character point sizes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved photocomposing mechanism easily adapted to character groups of different point sizes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved sub-system for rotating the reflecting surface with a galvometer movement in a photocompositions system.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of the improved photocomposition system.

FIG. 1 illustrates with blocks of sub-systems and perspective views of hardware the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Light source 1 is powered by light power supply in response to a signal from coincidence gate 3. Light source 1 is selected to provide an intense, short burst of light 4. Light source 1 can be any controllable light source such as a zeon flash tube or even a laser.

Light 4 passes through monitor 5 which samples and detects a portion of light 4. Beam splitter 6 deflects a portion of light 4 to light detector 7 while the remainder of light 4 continues to drum assembly 8. Light detector 7 transforms incident light to an electrical signal which is fed into the light power supply 2 so as to maintain a predetermined light output intensity from light source 1.

Drum assembly 8 is comprised of a drive motor 9 which rotates drum l0 continuously. Drum 10 has a mask which has a group of transparent alphanumerics l1 (commonly called a font) and a group of corresponding transparent apertures 12.

Light source 13 is simple source of light for illuminating light detector 14 each time an aperture 12 passes between light source 13 and light detector 14. Each time light detector 14 is illuminated an electrical pulse is coupled to counter electronics 15. The numerical count in counter electronics 15 identifies the alphanumeric 11 which is in position for being impressed on photosensitive material 16 as will be described in detail.

Counter electronics l5 accumulates electrical pulses until the count is full at which point all alphanumerics 11 on drum 10 have been in position for being impressed. Counter electronics 15 then resets so as to start the count from zero. No alphanumeric 11 can be impressed during the reset time. The initial count after reset must always start with the same alphanumeric 11 in order to maintain the equivalence between the numerical count and the alphanumerics 11.

The light 4 which has passed through monitor 5 continues to reflecting mechanism 17 which is shown as a penta-reflector where the light 4 is reflected through the desired alphanumeric 11. The lens system 18 projects the optical image 19 of alphanumeric 11 on reflcctor 20 which reflects the optical image 19 to thephotosensitive material 16.

The orientation of reflector 20 determines the position of the impressed optical image 19 on photosensitive material 16. Reflector 20 is controlled by the electronics shown in block diagram form and which will be described herein.

The distance between reflector 20 and photosensitive material 16 is made large enough so that perceptible distortion of the impressed optical image 19 does not occur for various parts of photosensitive material 16. If it is necessary to make the distance between reflector 20 and photosensitive material 16 small, distortion can be avoided, either by curving photosensitive material 16 so that the alphanumeric line 21 is equidistant from reflector 20, or by using an appropriate optical lens system.

At the completion of alphanumeric line 21 in accordance with data encoded on tape 22, mechanism 23 moves the photosensitive material 16 up for the next alphanumeric line 21. Developer 24 processes and develops photosensitive material 16 and then cutter 25 cuts strips 26 for storage and future use.

Having described the general operation of the preferred embodiment, now the relationship between the input tape 22 and the various electronics will be described.

Encoded on tape 22 is data specifying alphanumerics l1 and the completion of alphanumeric line 21. Tape 22 is decoded by tape reader 27 and the decoded data is coupled to electronic computer and memory 28.

Computer 28 is programmed to take the alphanumeric data from tape reader 27 and generate a count number for character code register 29 and a width number for character width register 30. The character code register 29 temporarily stores the data and conples it to coincident gate 3. When the counter electronics input to coincidence gate 3 is the same as the count number from the character code register 29, the specified alphanumeric 11 is in position for impressing it on photosensitive material 16.

The data in the character width register 30 is transferred to the motor stepper register 31 where the data is stored until the coincidence gate 3 outputs a pulse to NAND gate 32 so as to gate the clock pulse input through gate 32. The clock pulse input transfers the digital data from register 31 to buffer storage register 33.

Digital-to-analog converter 34 transforms the digital data in register 33 to an analog signal. The converter 34 has a control input which permits the analog gain to be adjusted to conform with the alphanumeric point size base. The digital date may be the same whereas the alphanumeric sizes may be different. Amplifiers 35 and 36 amplify the analog signal from converter 34.

The amplified signal from amplifier 36 is coupled to galvanometer 37 which rotates reflector so that the next alphanumeric l1 specified by tape 22 will be impressed in the proper position on photosensitive material 16 in accordance with the size of the alphanumeric 11 last impressed.

A justified tape 22 will provide a code to computer 28 to indicate the completion of a line 21 otherwise the computer 28 will conclude that a line 21 is full. In either event, computer 28 outputs a leading data input to leading control electronics 38 so that a signal is provided for drive 23 for moving photosensitive material 16 to expose the next line 21.

it is evident that the present invention provides an improved photocomposing machine which will prepare a rapid type-setting copy and film for preparation of printing plates at speeds which are compatible with present day requirements.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A photocomposing mechanism comprising:

means for reading data from a data carrier,

count storage means independent of said character data carrier having information representing each character by a predetermined count,

a light source,

a drum having a font of transparent characters on its P p y.

means for continuously rotating said drum,

a beam divertor mounted within said drum,

means for counting the number of characters on said drum passing a predetermined point,

means for detecting coincidence between the number of characters passing said point and the predetermined count of the character read by the reading means,

means operable by said coincidence to activate said light source to generate a light beam,

said light beam being projected within said drum and against said divertor to redirect it and cause it to pass through the selected character in the font to form an image of character,

means for directing the image of each character onto a photo-sensitive sheet,

width storage means independent of said character data carrier and independent of said font having the width characteristics of each character stored therein,

a movable reflector outside of said drum in the path of said image,

said movable reflector being adapted to direct the image against the photo-sensitive sheet,

said photo-sensitive sheet being movable in a path perpendicular of the path of the movable reflector,

means for maintaining said photo-sensitive sheet stationary until a line of characters has been impressed on said sheet,

means for moving the photo-sensitive sheet in said perpendicular direction when a line has been completed,

galvanometer means responsive to width characteristics in said width storage means for moving the movable reflector a predetermined distance whereby the movable reflector will direct the image of the characters in a single line on said photo-sensitive sheet in accurately spaced relationship to each other,

inhibit means to inhibit the pulsing of the light beam until the reflector is in proper position,

means for removing the inhibit when the reflector mechanism is in position,

said counting means comprising an opening adjacent each transparent character,

a light source within the drum and directing a light ray through said opening and a light-sensitive count sensor adapted to receive said light ray,

a lens system between the reflector mechanism and said drum.

2. A photo composing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided for generating a digital count corresponding to the width of a character and wherein digital to analog converter means are provided for transforming said digital count to an analog voltage for controlling said galvanometer.

3. A photo composing mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein register means are provided for storing said digital count to said digital to analog converter.

4. A photo composing mechanism as claimed in claim 3 wherein means are provided for generating a claim 4, wherein said gating means comprises a NAND gate.

6. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided for adjusting the intensity of said light.

7. A mechanism as claimed in claim 6 wherein said adjusting means comprises a beam splitter which directs a portion of said generated beam to an intensity measuring device for controlling the intensity of the light source.

* l k l l 

1. A photocomposing mechanism comprising: means for reading data from a data carrier, count storage means independent of said character data carrier having information representing each character by a predetermined count, a light source, a drum having a font of transparent characters on its periphery, means for continuously rotating said drum, a beam divertor mounted within said drum, means for counting the number of characters on said drum passing a predetermined point, means for detecting coincidence between the number of characters passing said point and the predetermined count of the character read by the reading means, means operable by said coincidence to activate said light source to generate a light beam, said light beam being projected within said drum and against said divertor to redirect it and cause it to pass through the selected character in The font to form an image of character, means for directing the image of each character onto a photosensitive sheet, width storage means independent of said character data carrier and independent of said font having the width characteristics of each character stored therein, a movable reflector outside of said drum in the path of said image, said movable reflector being adapted to direct the image against the photo-sensitive sheet, said photo-sensitive sheet being movable in a path perpendicular of the path of the movable reflector, means for maintaining said photo-sensitive sheet stationary until a line of characters has been impressed on said sheet, means for moving the photo-sensitive sheet in said perpendicular direction when a line has been completed, galvanometer means responsive to width characteristics in said width storage means for moving the movable reflector a predetermined distance whereby the movable reflector will direct the image of the characters in a single line on said photo-sensitive sheet in accurately spaced relationship to each other, inhibit means to inhibit the pulsing of the light beam until the reflector is in proper position, means for removing the inhibit when the reflector mechanism is in position, said counting means comprising an opening adjacent each transparent character, a light source within the drum and directing a light ray through said opening and a light-sensitive count sensor adapted to receive said light ray, a lens system between the reflector mechanism and said drum.
 2. A photo composing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided for generating a digital count corresponding to the width of a character and wherein digital to analog converter means are provided for transforming said digital count to an analog voltage for controlling said galvanometer.
 3. A photo composing mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein register means are provided for storing said digital count to said digital to analog converter.
 4. A photo composing mechanism as claimed in claim 3 wherein means are provided for generating a command signal to indicate that reflecting mechanism can be moved and second register means are provided coupled to said first register means through gating means responsive to said command signal.
 5. A photo composing mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein said gating means comprises a NAND gate.
 6. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided for adjusting the intensity of said light.
 7. A mechanism as claimed in claim 6 wherein said adjusting means comprises a beam splitter which directs a portion of said generated beam to an intensity measuring device for controlling the intensity of the light source. 